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Tom Cheek always had backers when it came to the Ford C. Frick Award. And on Wednesday, they were happy backers ...

"I'm so happy the Frick Award is going to Tom. He's been at the top of my ballot the last two years. Tom's career was off and running after he joined the Montreal Expos. Tom and I remained friends until his passing. Tom, Buck Martinez, Duke Snider, Tommy Hutton and I all worked playoff and World Series games for Telemedia Sports Network (radio) when Telemedia had Canadian broadcast rights in the early '80s."

-- Former Frick winner Dave Van Horne.

"I can now say publicly I voted for Tom. It's a shame he's not around to enjoy it, but I'm sure his family will. Our paths crossed rarely, Tom working the AL, me the NL. What I know, however, when we did meet I came away with the certainty that Tom was a man who was blessed with the ability to broadcast well the toughest game of all but, more importantly, was a man who treated everyone the same. In our vernacular, he never "big-leagued" anybody. The combination of talent and class over all the years he did Jays baseball will be a legacy that will be hard to beat. Tom is a Hall of Famer in every sense of the words."

-- Former Frick winner Marty Brennaman.

"I'm thrilled, Tom Cheek was extremely professional, his love for the game came through during his broadcasts. Blue Jays baseball was not baseball without Tom and Jerry Howarth."

-- Jays' Hall of Fame GM Pat Gillick.

"Since the inception of the Jays he played a vital role in promoting baseball in Canada in an extraordinary and enduring way. Tom Cheek was the constant. He was a model of consistency, professionalism and excellence. He was the voice of summer, professional but passionate with a tone we could trust and embrace. Tom provided the sound track for many of the important moments in this team's history, with his choice of words and intonation always perfectly suited for the occasion. It is a tremendous recognition for Tom and his family."

-- Jays president Paul Beeston.

"Bruce Brenner (Cheek's good friend and engineer) phoned me with the news. Tom and I golfed together, we rode buses together, we rode planes together from 1982 to 1997. Of all the guys with the organization I spend more time with Jeff Ross (equipment man) and Tom. I can't wait to call Shirley. I'm waiting until my wife Lynda gets home so them we can both get on the line. We all loved him. It's so good so many media guys pushed for him all these years."

-- Former Jays manager Cito Gaston.

"After a day of golf, that night at the game, Tom, was smiling as widely as I'd ever seen him smile. So, naturally, I asked: "'Why so happy?' He said with another grin: 'I just got into Cito's wallet!' He had sunk a birdie putt on 18 to win. It was very moving for me in 1992 to see an emotional, Tom Cheek, crying throughout the night celebrating in Atlanta, both in the clubhouse and later that night at the team hotel, knowing that this franchise, his baby from 1977, had developed into World Series champions. A night I'll always remember."

-- Jerry Howarth, Cheek's partner in the broadcast booth from 1981-2004, who has now worked more games.

"Since the World Series ended, I've probably only watched Tom's call of the home run ... 3,000 to 4,000 times. It's an awesome call. Every where I go people say: 'Touch 'em all, Joe.' He was telling like he saw."

-- Joe Carter.

"A lot of people called or sent emails. Broadcasters from other teams like Joe Castiglione of the Boston Red Sox, people who worked with Tom, Susan Cutajar and Vicki McKee, both were crying. Jerry Howarth called of course, plus Paul Williams. I spoke to Cito and the calls are still coming."

-- Shirley Cheek.

"He absolutely loved the Blue Jays. He taught me well, he got the Jays going across Canada and was proud of that. With all that's going on with the organization right now, this fits -- you know he's watching, smiling, happy about his ball club."

-- Jays broadcaster and former catcher and manager Buck Martinez.

"I can still hear in my heart the many highlights of Tom's radio call. From Bill Singer's first pitch in the snow, to Dave Stieb's no-hitter in Cleveland, to caravans across the country. He loved talking baseball but he loved even more talking Blue Jays baseball. This is an honour richly deserved and I look forward to the celebration in Cooperstown in July."

-- Gord Ash, Milwaukee Brewers assistant GM.

"It's a great day for Toronto, for Tom and his family. Growing up in Montreal, I didn't get the games on radio, when it came to the Blue Jays we thought of Dan Shulman and Buck on TSN. One of my first trips with the team we were in the lobby in Baltimore and Tom came down and said he felt tired. I thought of my father, when he passed. But this is amazing news for Canadian baseball fans."

-- Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos

"I played a number of games of golf with him when I was a coach. He was a wonderful guy. This honour was long overdue."

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Cheek's friends have their say

Tom Cheek always had backers when it came to the Ford C. Frick Award. And on Wednesday, they were happy backers ...

"I'm so happy the Frick Award is going to Tom. He's been at the top of my ballot the last two years. Tom's career was off and running after he joined the Montreal Expos. Tom and I remained friends until his passing. Tom, Buck Martinez, Duke Snider, Tommy Hutton and I all worked playoff and World Series games for Telemedia Sports Network (radio) when Telemedia had Canadian broadcast rights in the early '80s."